APNGBC Articles of Interest, November 2016

The following is a selection of articles from various sources relating to Papua New Guinea. Opinions and information expressed in these articles are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Business Council or its members.

Emergence of a new regulatory framework around research and development in Papua New Guinea (PNG). It outlines developments in this area over the past 18 months, including the most recent event, the National Forum on Intellectual Property and Research and Development, held in Port Moresby 1–2 September 2016. It is important that researchers, donor agencies and PNG government departments are aware of these developments because once the new arrangements are in place they will have considerable impact upon the regulation of research and development in PNG.

Hidden away in the Department of Employment’s Annual Report for 2015-16 is some very good news about the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP).

It grew by 49 per cent in 2015-16 to reach 4,700 workers. The sustained and rapid growth in the SWP is evident from the graph below. From 2011-12 to 2013-14 it grew by about 500 a year. But in 2014-15, it grew by over 1,000 and last year by 1,500. The number of approved employers also grew by 11 in 2015-16 – taking the total to 69…

The notion of ‘organised crime’ typically conjures up images of criminal gangs. Some mafia and bikie gangs do operate in parts of the Pacific and have featured in local and international media. However, we argue that understanding the threat of organised crime in the Pacific requires moving away from this popular perception. We suggest that the most significant organised crime involves the nexus between political elites and seemingly licit actors. Reframing ‘organised crime’ in this way provides us with a more nuanced understanding of its changing political economy in the region.

To help mark the Asian Development Bank’s half-century, a panel of eminent speakers shared their insights on Asia-Pacific development over the past 50 years and the relevance of the institution in current times.

Discusses problems with encouraging entrepreneurialism as a way to solve poverty and reports on what rural women believe will improve their livelihood — specifically co-operatives, asset-based approaches and sustainable partnerships. It is based on interviews conducted with women from Menyamya District in Morobe Province, October 2015.